The
Voice The Nebraska State Education Association ď ś April 2010
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On the Cover: Audra Farrington’s fifth grade class at Pender knows all about finances and recycling — they’ve tied the two subects together for a real learning experience. For the story, see
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THE
VOICE Nebraska State Education Association 605 S. 14th Street, Suite 200 Lincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org (402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047
Volume 63, No. 8 ISSN Number: 1085-0783 USPS Number: 000-369 Executive Director Assoc. Executive Director Director of Public Affairs Assistant Comm. Director
Craig R. Christiansen Neal Clayburn Karen Kilgarin Al Koontz
NSEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Jess Wolf, Hartington Vice President Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia NEA Director Mark Shively, Omaha NEA Director Leann Widhalm, Norfolk
Official publication of the Nebraska State Education Association, Suite 200, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to NSEA Voice, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May and August. Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Nebraska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of producing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member. Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication. Appearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not necessarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.
Great Public Schools For Every Child Page 2 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
NEA Finds Fault With ESEA Proposal Reauthorization Relies on High-Stakes Tests After Education Secretary Arne Duncan presented the Obama Administration’s priorities for changing our nation’s leading education policy for elementary and secondary education, the National Education Association was quick to point out the major flaw in the plan. As did No Child Left Behind, Duncan said plans for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) will include high-stakes testing. NEA does not support the Administration’s blueprint because it’s based on the same flawed logic of No Child Left Behind — determining winners and losers based on test scores, said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. If America is serious about creating a stronger foundation for public schools, it’s important to get the blueprint right before it becomes policy, said Van Roekel. “The 3.2 million members of the National Education Association would like nothing more than to see No Child Left Behind (NCLB) left behind. For nearly a decade, this legislation has punished students and entire communities with do-or-die, high-stakes testing,” he said. “Achieving a world-class education
that prepares children for college and career, and allows them to compete in our ever-changing global economy, means that we’re going to have to radically change the way we think about public education. Our kids have got to be more than a test score,” said Van Roekel. “This is exactly why we cannot support the blueprint as it’s currently being presented to Congress. It simply does not go far enough to help all students succeed. It’s still based on high-stakes, low-quality standardized tests where some kids win and some kids lose. President Obama promised we would fix this — and fix it for all students, not just some.” Van Roekel said educators know what works for students. They’ve been sharing their views for years, and no one is more eager to fix the problems of NCLB than NEA’s members. “If the Administration and Congress want our support, they’ll have to put a draft in front of us that really allows teachers to help their students succeed, without relying on high-stakes standardized tests. Our children are counting on the adults to get it right,” he said. For more details about NEA’s principles for the reauthorization, visit: www.nea.org/esea
Speakers for Rachel’s Challenge Educator Summit Announced The first Rachel’s Challenge Educator Summit, a training event for teachers, administrators and community leaders, will be held in Denver June 23-26. The event brings together an unusual slate of speakers to address making positive cultural changes on school campuses. Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott, the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999, will host the event. Featured speakers include Cor Suijk, CEO emeritus of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam; Ron Clark, a Disney American Teacher of the Year and subject of the movie The Ron Clark Story; and Deborah Phelps,
middle school principal, author and mother of three athletes, including Olympian Michael Phelps. The Rachel’s Challenge Educator Summit will also offer a series of workshops on engaging students to improve their own learning environment; antidotes to bullying and violent behavior; turning difficult students into creative participants; and building a culture of caring and compassion. Registration is open online at: www.rachelschallengesummit.org Group discounts are available. For details, contact Sarah Branion at 1303-470-3000 or e-mail her at: sarah@rachelschallenge.org
From the President
A Risk of Redundancy!
NSEA President Jess Wolf ‘The ARRA money in Nebraska is being used to bridge the state’s revenue chasm during this down period in the economy — it will carry us through to better times and an economic upturn that will return revenues to normal.’
Some things bear repeating. If you’re a regular reader of my columns, there’s nothing much new here, yet the importance of each individual item cannot be stressed enough. I hope you’ll agree. The annual countdown to the NSEA Delegate Assembly is well under way. Final preparations are being made for the April 16-17 event, and we’ll be ready for your representatives from across the state to come to Lincoln, where they’ll set the Association’s course for the coming year. The real question here is, “Will your local be ready by having your delegate selected, registered, and present to cast votes on your behalf?” This issue of The Voice has all the details and information concerning the Delegate Assembly. You’ll find a tentative agenda, proposed Bylaws changes, and the dues recommendation for 2010-11. The same information is provided on the NSEA Web site at www.nsea.org. Simply click on the “Delegate Assembly” icon in the right hand column. New information and updates will be added as it becomes available. A Revenue Chasm There have been lots of articles written concerning the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA — federal stimulus dollars) and its impact in Nebraska. Most of the articles have expressed concern over the impending “cliff effect” Nebraska schools will face when the federal dollars run dry. But there’s another perspective not being covered in those articles. The ARRA money was good for Nebraska, good for school districts, and good for NSEA members. Had this money not been available, Nebraska would have been hard-pressed to find comparable amounts of money to spend on K-12 public education. Federal dollars to the tune of $234 million were used to bolster state aid. There is no doubt that, had the state aid program not had those dollars available, hundreds of education employees would have lost their jobs.
Other states have already had severe cuts in K-12 teaching jobs. Kansas lost 3,000 jobs this year and may lose another 2,000 next year. California lost 15,000 this year and could lose another 23,000 next year. Nebraska schools and school employees have not faced anything near what those, and other states, have gone through. The ARRA money in Nebraska is being used to bridge the state’s revenue chasm during this down period in the economy – it will carry us through to better times and an economic upturn that will return revenues to normal. While these dollars have been important to individual educators, they have likewise been of great importance to the economies of communities across the state. ARRA money going to education employees was spent in shops and stores in every Nebraska community. When districts used the money for one-time expenditures on purchases from major corporations, those dollars did not necessarily end up helping the Nebraska economy. Happens Every Year Meanwhile, the so-called “cliff effect” will continue to be an issue for school districts. Each and every year, the legislature has the authority to change the school funding formula – history has proven this to be the case. So we face the potential for a “cliff” every biennium. And as we negotiate, we’ll continue to hear that “the timing isn’t right” or “the budget is very tight.” As the new bargaining season begins, we need to keep things in perspective. While the national economy suffered, the upper plains states of the Midwest were least affected and have the strongest economies. And Nebraska has one of the best economies of those states. Those fomenting gloom and doom often miss the real situation. We are teachers: we can use our skills to educate our fellow Nebraskans about the state of the economy and the importance of quality teachers and public education. Only when we have done that can our state and nation progress.
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Poised for Passage State Aid Increase, Retirement, Truancy Bills Near Final Vote With just a handful of days remaining in the 2010 legislative session, there’s a logjam of legislation to be considered by state senators, including numerous education-related bills. Despite the busy agenda, senators appear set to send several important education bills to the governor’s desk. Among them is LB935, the state budget for 2010-11, which includes state aid to education. As recommended by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, LB935 will include a $16 million increase in state aid. The increase is funded in part by a transfer from the state reserves, and includes no additional cuts to the Nebraska State College System or to the University of Nebraska system. Speaker Mike Flood has expedited LB1071, which provides tuition reimbursement for teachers in graduate degree-granting programs. It has advanced to Select File – the second of three stages of consideration by lawmakers. Timing is important, as the State Board of Education must wait until 30 days after a bill is signed into law to proceed with a public hearing on a rule change. LB1071 needs the Governor’s signature no later than April 2 in order for the State Board to take action at the Board’s May 5 meeting. Action at that date would allow teachers wanting to take courses this summer to participate in the tuition reimbursement program. LB1071 would also change the state aid certification date from Feb. 1 to
Capitol speak: NSEA-Retired Board of Directors member Pat Etherton, right, visits her representative, Lincoln State Sen. Amanda McGill, during a Lobby day for NSEA-Retired members. McGill has actively supported a number of education-friendly measures on behalf of active and retired teachers.
April 1 in 2011, and to March 1 in following years. Here’s a look at the status of other key education-related legislation: Community Colleges A funding dispute between the state’s community colleges was settled after Flood, Sen. Greg Adams and Sen. Brad Ashford mediated a settlement. The col-
leges agreed to sunset the current state aid formula on June 30, 2011, and work with Adams and the Education Committee on a new aid formula. The settlement is in LB1072, on General File. Performance Pay Work continues on an agreement to LB1014, Sen. Ken Haar’s priority bill to establish the Teacher Performance
LB1014’s Performance Pay Fund Would Benefit Nebraska Teachers The major concern heard from NSEA members who have seen NSEA’s recommendation of passage for LB1014, is that merit pay — with admninistrator-determined pay raises — might be part of the package. But rest assured: while Sen. Ken Haar’s bill would create the Teacher Performance Pay Fund, it’s not merit pay. Haar introduced the bill as a way to funnel revenues from wind and solar power energy leases into teacher salaries. The revenues would come from wind and solar power energy efforts situated on the state’s school lands scattered across the state. The revenues from those leases would be distributed to every local school district to enhance teacher salaries. And here’s the key: the performance pay plans would be developed and negotiated at the local level, by the school district and the local education association bargaining unit.
Under LB1014, performance pay criteria, measurements and pay amounts would become mandatory topics of collective bargaining – administration could not set arbitrary measurements. Further, nothing in the proposed statute would require student test scores to be used as a measure of performance for teachers. All teachers would stand to benefit, based on how the plan is negotiated by their local association. Finally, LB1014 gives local school districts and local associations time to craft a supplemental performance pay plan that works for their district, recognizing that every district may be a bit different based on individual needs.While the fund builds slowly, it creates a needed incentive for local districts and associations to help boost teacher compensation. Nebraska’s average teacher salary is currently ranked 42nd in the nation. April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 5
Pay Fund with revenue generated from wind and solar energy leases to improve Nebraska teacher salaries (see related story). Debate is expected to continue. School Nurses Sen. Mike Gloor’s LB713 may be included on the Legislature’s Consent Agenda. LB713 would allow school districts to perform student health inspections at any time during the school year, as opposed to during the first quarter of the year as currently required. NSEA and a number of NSEA school nurse members testified in support.
Is There a Future State Senator Sitting in Your Classroom? Future state senators will be interested in this opportunity: the Unicameral Youth Legislature, a four-day legislative simulation for ages 14 to 17. During the program, students take on the role of lawmakers; sponsoring legislation; conducting committee hearings; debating legislation; and learning about America’s only one-house Legislature. Students will learn about the inner workings of the Legislature from senators, senatorial staffers and lobbyists. Sponsored by the Nebraska Legislature and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Extension Office, the event takes place at the State Capitol and the UNL campus from June 13-16. The registration deadline is May 1. Contact the Unicameral Information Office at 402471-2788, or via e-mail at: uio@leg.ne.gov More details can also be found at: www.NebraskaLegislature.gov/education/unicamyouth.php
Retirement Funds Sen. Jeremy Nordquist’s LB899, which helps ensure security of the state retirement system for both active and retired teachers, was sent to Select File as part of LB950, a Retirement Committee priority bill. It delays the sunset on the $6.9 million annual state contribution to the purchasing power adjustment to the school employees, judges and state patrol retirement funds to June 2013.
to Select File. NSEA supports LB800, as consistent attendance is an important component in student achievement. An amendment will ensure that scheduling meetings with parents, administration, school resource officers, counselors, and appropriate community officials is not added to teachers’ workloads.
Truancy Sen. Brad Ashford’s LB800 advanced
Green Schools Sen. Haar’s LB1096 may be includ-
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ed on the Consent Agenda. The act provides procedures for Nebraska school districts to qualify for grant or loan financing to perform assessment and evaluation procedures related to energy savings. A high performance school is also known as a “green school.” Green schools have been shown to protect student and teacher health; lower operating costs; and provide an education opportunity on energy conservation.
In character:Whether on stage or in the crowd at Peru State College, Seuss characters were everywhere during PSC’s annual celebration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss. From left are teacher candidate Adam DeBilzan, as the Odd Hunch in the story Bunches of Hunches; teacher candidate Jacob Buss as the Old Man in Do You Know How Lucky You Are?; and an unidentified teacher from an area school as Thing 2.
Seussian Fare, Everywhere! What happens when a group of college education majors set out to plan a reading celebration for area school children? You have two days of reading fun! More than 1,400 school children from southeast Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri traveled to Peru State College in late February, as members of the college’s Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) Chapter hosted Nebraska’s most spectacular ‘Read Across America’ celebration. Demand was so high this year that a fourth show was added to the usual three-show schedule. Held over two days, the program included skits from Dr. Seuss Books, including Hunches in Bunches and Do You Know How Lucky You Are? Also featured on the program were costume and dance contests, and each school received a box of books from SEAN to be distributed among teachers for classroom use. In addition, the ‘Dr. Seuss Readers’ Oath’ was administered by Ted Harshbarger, director of the college’s transition services. Harshbarger was joined in administering the oath by college
Photos By Bill Clemente
Peru State College Event Celebrates Seuss, Reading Over Two Days
All smiles: A youngster at Peru State College’s Read Across America celebration smiles with appreciation during the show. Below, at right, Peru State professors Chet Harper, left, and Bill Clemente, right, perform Green Eggs and Ham.
President Dan Hanson and his wife, Elaine. Peru State English Professor Dr. Bill Clemente was event master of ceremonies, and, along with Professor Dr. Chet Harper, performed Green Eggs and Ham. Peru State College teacher candidates Brittany Hergott and Abbie Kaufmann were co-chairs for the event. Becky Colling was the skit coordinator and Addy Markowsky is the SEAN chapter president. The Peru State SEAN Chapter advisor is Dr. Judith Ruskamp, School of Education assistant professor. April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 7
Why an article on ‘green in the classroom’ in this issue? Consider these April observances, including the 40th anniversary of Earth Day: National Environmental Education Week The April 11-17 observance is designed to inspire environmental-related learning, understanding and Earth stewardship among K-12 students. The event also links classroom teachers to environmental resources. Educators who register (at no cost) receive free online resources, details on professional development and access to discounts on materials. For details, go to: http://www.eeweek.org/ Earth Day Earth Day – April 22 – is the anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement. In 1970, more than 20 million Americans rallied to protest careless use and abuse of the environment. The effort aligned college students, activist groups, Democrats, Republicans, rich and poor in an action that resulted in the founding of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. For more, go to: http://www.earthday.net/ earthday2010 To join the Earth Day Educator’s Network, click on the ‘Get Active’ link at the top of the home page, and look for the ‘Join Educator’s Network’ link. Arbor Day The last Friday in April (April 30 this year) is designated as Arbor Day. Founded by Nebraskan J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day benefits the environment by promoting the planting of trees that improve the environment, enhance property values, and save energy. For more, go to: http://www.arborday.org Page Page88nnThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice VoicennApril April2010 2010
On task: Audra Farrington’s students sort through reams of paper before turning it into note pads. From left are Haylie Roberts, Farrington, Cade Ballard and Makrae Kelly.
In Pender, They’ve
Gone Green Fifth Grade Class Learns About Financial Responsibility, Gets into Recycling Habit in the Same Lesson During the nine years Audra Farrington taught in Texas, she remembers two things. First, she discovered that many people didn’t have a well-developed sense of financial responsibility. Second, she remembers the paper waste in her school’s copy room. When Farrington returned to Nebraska to teach, her mother joined her on the trip home. During the long drive, they brainstormed ideas for Farrington to use in her new assignment as a fifth grade teacher at
Pender. “Other than at home, there is only one other place where kids can be taught about financial responsibility. That’s at school,” said Farrington. “In a brainstorm session with my mom, we combined that with recycling.” Now in her second year at Pender, Farrington’s lesson leads students to discover that there is used copy paper that might go to waste at the school. Students decide to turn the papers into scratch pads, and collect the paper from the school and local
businesses. Paper with information deemed ‘confidential’ — names, addresses or other personal information on one side — is shredded. Paper used on both sides is recycled, and the remaining paper is turned into notepads and put up for sale, through local businesses. Her students learn about recycling, but also get lessons on entrepreneurship, from writing a business plan, to marketing the end product. They also learn about money, banking and business. As the 2010 calendar reaches April, which hosts the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Farrington’s project is a fine example of one of the hundreds of ways teachers across Nebraska share the message of recycling with students. “I think most teachers recycle many items without even thinking about it,” said Farrington. “They reuse and recycle for projects in their classrooms every day.” Resourceful True, teachers are resourceful in their recycling efforts. With little or no budget for supplies, often combined with a desire to do what’s right for the environment, teachers generally set a tremendous example on ‘green’ issues. And that example is a good thing in the classroom, said author Jodi Helmer, author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference. “Kids are the next generation, and will play a huge role in recycling,” said Helmer. “Teachers can talk to students about why we’re recycling and why we’re not tossing out old notebooks. There is always a good opportunity to teach around recycling.” Helmer offers examples of a new list of the ‘Three Rs’ for the classroom: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. “Even little projects like growing tomato plants in the classroom teaches lessons about food miles – how much it costs to grow food elsewhere and then transport those tomatoes,” she said. The enormous amount of leftovers in most school lunchrooms presents another opportunity, said Helmer. Teachers can talk to parents and administrators about a school-wide composting project, using the leftovers. Worms can offer another composting
Keep Your School in Tip-Top Shape: Join in on ‘Keep Schools Beautiful Day’ Last year, nearly 30 Nebraska schools participated in the first Keep Schools Beautiful Day, sponsored by Keep Nebraska Beautiful. It’s not too late to participate this year. The event is part of Keep America Beautiful’s ‘Great American Cleanup.’ The target date for cleanups or other environmental activities is Earth Day, Friday, April 22, but schools can participate through May 31. Each participating school receives a personalized Certificate of Appreciation from Keep America Beautiful. And that’s not all! Keep Nebraska Beautiful is a great resource for environmental education for students and adults. Jane Polson, executive director, encourages schools to use the Keep America Beautiful curriculum ‘Waste in Place’ for grades K-6 and ‘CleanSweep USA,’ an interactive Web site found at: www.cleansweepusa.org For more resources; to register for the Keep Schools Beautiful Day; to learn more about Litter-Free School Zones Program; or to apply for the Keep Nebraska Beautiful Awards for schools, go to this Web site: http://www.knb.org/education.html
lesson. “Worms make a great compost, and a small worm bin needs only two pounds of material per day,” she said. “Earthworms will feed on food and newsprint, and you can set up a worm bin inexpensively – there are tons of instructions online. “Even if the teacher in the classroom can’t get the rest of the school to go along with the school-wide composting, the worm bin is something that could be done in the classroom,” Helmer said. She also suggested that teachers bring coffee mugs to class, rather than using disposable cups. “The American Library Association, at its 2008 conference, asked each member to bring a ceramic mug. They figured that, over the course of four days, they saved 10,000 paper or Styrofoam cups from going into the landfill. “If NSEA has 28,000 members, and they were all to bring their own mugs to school, that would keep 28,000 cups out of the landfill – every day!” said Helmer. Second-Hand Supplies Helmer, who also co-authored The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers, also offered these ideas for teachers:
n Turn the classroom thermostat down. Every two degrees you turn the thermostat down in the winter or up in the summer not only saves tax dollars, but keeps about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. n Carpooling: This measure cuts gasoline use, reducing congestion and pollution. Helmer suggested a schoolwide competition to see who can drive the least number of miles during a given month, either saving miles through carpooling, walking or riding bikes. n School supplies: Second-hand stores can be a good resource for journals, notebooks and craft kits. “Some Goodwill stores also carry new, and deeply-discounted, supplies like craft kits, activity books, coloring kits and the like,” said Helmer. n Save paper: Notes to parents, newsletters, permission slips and other paper items can be sent to parents electronically, reducing paper use. n Online: Helmer said teachers can search for needed classroom items online at such sites as freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Items like a chair for the classroom reading circle, or a slightly used rug, can be found at those sites. “It keeps those items from going to the landfill,” said Helmer. Schoolwide Effort Back in Pender, Farrington says April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 9
her school does an excellent job on environmental and related projects. A fourth grade teacher colleague is an example. “No student in her classroom can get rid of any paper that hasn’t been used on both sides, so they already have the concept of recycling in fourth grade,” she said. “And our sixth grade students use scratch paper, as well, for assignments.” Another teacher collects and trans-
ports other school recyclables to a recycling center. Pender was also a pilot school for the Keep Nebraska Beautiful ‘Clean Schools’ program last year (see related story on previous page). A ‘Don’t Stress the Dress’ program collected old prom dresses so students could save the $150 to $200 they would otherwise spend on a dress they would wear one time. The district earned a grant last year for
trash cleanup, and the National Honor Society and FFA did a roadside cleanup project. Some elementary classrooms have done trash cleanups as well. In addition, the FFA built and then planted a ‘healing’ garden at the Pender Care Center, allowing residents to garden without having to kneel down. And lessons learned from those types of projects pay environmental dividends for generations.
Recycling Efforts Range from Usual to Unique NSEA members from across the state shared their green ‘experiences’ through NSEA’s Web site. They include: From Jeff Wusk, Fillmore Central Education Association: Fillmore Central High School put in new bleachers in the gym during the fall semester. I hated to see the lumber go to waste, so my cabinet-making class decided to reclaim the lumber. Students planed down each board and built projects out of the bleacher boards. Some of the projects that were created were an arbor, a chair, benches, a cabinet, a ping pong table, marker board frames, and a bookshelf. During Parent-Teacher conferences in March, students displayed the projects. Teachers voted on the best projects, with prizes awarded from local businesses. During this time we discussed the benefits of using old materials to create new items. The students had a great time and they saved money.
morning they meet to drive to the recycling center for unloading. MHS Student Council members are proud of these small efforts to help save the environment. Also from Bohling: For years, members of the McCook Education Association have gathered gloves, tongs, snake repellent and protective footgear and met west of McCook to participate in the Highway Clean-Up program. Now, the two mile stretch has been adopted by the Senior High School Student Council. Twice a year, students gather to clean ditches on both sides of the highway. Competition is held to see who uncovers the strangest item – so far that’s been an overstuffed chair! From the North Platte Campus of Mid-Plains Community College:
Waste reduction and recycling efforts have become increasingly important at all Mid-Plains Community From Cindy Thornton, Superior College campuses. Staff, faculty and Education Association: students at the college have been working to find ways to save money When students do research and and the environment by using a variety print from the Internet, they someof recycling methods. times print more pages than necessary. A $7,774 grant awarded to the colI have them put these extra sheets in lege by the Nebraska Department of a tray next to the printer and then I Environmental Quality last summer reload the printer with the recycled paper. New use for old wood: At Fillmore Central greatly assisted in increasing the recyHigh School in Geneva, students in Jeff Wusk’s cling efforts at the college. The monies From Sharon Bohling, McCook classroom used lumber from the school’s old were used to purchase desk-side paEducation Association: bleachers to make, among other things, benches, per recycling collection units, plastic/ aluminum recycling collection units, Adirondack chairs and this garden arbor. can liners, and promotional and educa“I’m the sponsor for the Student tional materials. Council at McCook Senior High. For Reports from the North Platte campus indicate that 368.96 several years, these student leaders have stayed after home footcubic feet of aluminum, 473.5 cubic feet of plastic, and 13,020 ball games to collect pop/water bottles from the stands. A couple pounds of paper have been recycled since the kick-off of the reof students (usually football players who couldn’t help collect) cycling program in July 2009. Newspapers, cardboard, printer carmeet on Saturday morning to haul the empty plastics to the retridges and other items are also routinely recycled. cycling center. The grant allowed the college to put a paper receptacle in In addition, we promote paper recycling in classrooms. On all offices and classrooms throughout MPCC’s 18-county service three Fridays during the school year, more often if necessary, stuarea. Also installed: bins for plastic bottles and aluminum cans dents collect full boxes of used notebook and computer paper throughout the buildings. which teachers have set outside classroom doors. The following Page 10 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
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Who Will it Be? Applications Now Available for 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year Every day, in every Nebraska classroom, excellence is at work. Yet only a single one of Nebraska’s thousands of teachers will carry the title of 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Will it be you? Applications are now being taken for the 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year program. Those who apply should understand that the state’s top teacher earns more than just a title: the winner also receives thousands of dollars in gifts. The SMARTer Kids Foundation provides the Teacher of the Year with a package of hardware and software for classroom use. Assorted other gifts, from NSEA and other education organizations, add to the value of the title. Since 1972, the program has recognized outstanding Nebraska certified teachers in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classrooms. Candidates should be exceptionally dedicated; knowledgeable and skilled; active in the community in which they teach; and poised, articulate and energetic. Other partners who have joined in honoring finalists and winners include the NSEA; the Nebraska Council of School Administrators; the Nebraska Association of School Boards; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska; the Nebraska PTA; Dillard’s of Lincoln; and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). Finalists have also been recipients of stipends provided by other professional and corporate sponsors. As in the past, each of this year’s finalists will also receive a $1,000 grant for a project of the teacher’s choice in his or her school. The application is on the Department of Education Web site, and can be completed electronically. Hard copies will be mailed to individuals who request the application via hard copy. The deadline to apply is Aug. 16, 2010. Finalists will be interviewed in Lincoln in October, and an awards luncheon and reception will be held in the Nebraska State Education Association Board Room in November. All Nebraska school superintendents will receive application materials from the Department of Education in March. For more details or for application materials, call the Nebraska Department of Education, 402-471-5059, and ask for the Teacher of the Year coordinator. The Department of Education Web site is at: http://www.nde.state.ne.us/toy/index.htm
National Wildlife Federation Offers Free Curricula The National Wildlife Federation has a new and unique climate change curricula, developed for educators and designed to inspire students to action on climate change. Climate Classroom offers age and developmentally appropriate ways to address a tough and complex topic in the classroom. It also provides resources and project ideas for parents, teachers, kids and teens at home, or in their school. NWF offers curricula to encourage students of grades 4-12 to learn about the science of global warming, its relevance to current natural events, and how they can be part of the solution. The Climate Classroom curricula are available free at: www.climateclassroom.org Page 14 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
Heineman Will Headline DA Governor to Address Members at NSEA Delegate Assembly Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman will headline the speaker list as the NSEA Delegate Assembly opens in Lincoln later this month. More than 300 NSEA members, elected to represent their colleagues, will attend Delegate Assembly in Lincoln, where they will consider changes to the Association’s Bylaws and Resolutions and set the direction of the Association for the coming school year. The Delegate Assembly opens at Heineman Lincoln’s Cornhusker Hotel on Friday, April 16, and closes on Saturday, April 17. This will be the 149th Delegate Assembly in NSEA’s 143-year history. Building Issue Heineman became governor in 2005 after then-Gov. Mike Johanns became U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He was elected in 2006, and is seeking a second full term this year. Heineman has made education a priority. He supports high academic standards and increased parental involvement in education. He has been supportive of NSEA positions on issues before the Legislature, including tuition reimbursement for teachers; increased state aid; and closing achievement gaps. Last summer, Heineman penned a letter to all NSEA members, urging them to make certain that they worked through negotiations to get $234 million in additional state aid to “where it matters most – the classroom.” Heineman has also been open to meeting with NSEA President Jess Wolf, Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen and other leaders. He has hosted the NSEA Board of Directors in discussion of education issues at the Governor’s Mansion, and has addressed the board in meetings at the NSEA Headquarters.
Heineman will address Delegate Assembly on Friday evening. Elections There will be one election this year: Norfolk’s Leann Widhalm will conclude her term on the National Education Association Board of Directors, and has declared she will seek a second term. While no other declared candidates have declared, delegates will cast ballots for that post on Saturday morning. Bylaws Proposals There are six proposed changes to the NSEA Bylaws (See elsewhere in
this section). The first proposal would allow, with approval of NSEA’s Executive Committee, active teacher members to return to student membership status if they have left teaching and returned full time to school. That proposal was made by the Student Education Association of Nebraska. Five other proposals would make minor updates and changes to the Bylaws. The NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee proposed the updates. Foundation Fundraiser A benefit for the Lincoln EducaApril2010 2010n nThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice Voicen nPage Page1515 April
tion Foundation will also benefit the NSEA Children’s Fund. A silent auction will be held before and after the Friday evening session. Delegates and others may bid on auction items beginning at 4 p.m. Final bids will be due shortly after the Friday night session closes. In addition to the LEA auction, all local associations have been invited to offer baskets or items for silent auction. Proceeds benefit The LEA Foundation, which assists members in time of catastrophic events, among other things. A share of the proceeds will also benefit the Children’s Fund. Contributions are tax deductible. Awards Breakfast Delegates will also honor a handful of award winners at the Horace Mann awards breakfast on Saturday morning. The Horace Mann Insurance Company,
Standing Rules Proposals and Committee Reports Online
Committee reports and proposed changes to the Delegate Assembly Standing Rules have been posted to the NSEA Web site. The Standing Rules proposals will be the first item of action on the agenda for delegates. To view the reports and the Standing Rules proposals, go to the NSEA Web site at: www.nsea.org
endorsed by NSEA, has generously underwritten the breakfast cost. Honors to be dispensed this year include: Rookie of the Year; Teaching Excellence Award; Education Support Professional of the Year Award; and Friend of Education. The awards ceremony has, in the past, been held during lunch. It has been moved to breakfast to accommodate an earlier adjournment, if delegates complete action before the noon hour.
Dues Action After numerous meetings and serious budget crunching, the Budget Committee of the NSEA Board of Directors has recommended a $7 increase in dues for the 2010-11 Association year. The NSEA Board of Directors accepted the recommendation in March, and will ask members at the Delegate Assembly to accept the recommendation on April 17. NSEA Vice President Nancy Fulton told board members that the Budget Committee’s original dues-increase proposal last fall was $7. The committee trimmed several budget areas, and asked that staff program areas maintain a tight budget from 2009-10 to 2010-11. After delegates finalize the dues increase, the budget will be finalized and approved by the Board of Directors in July.
Proposed Bylaws Revisions These proposed changes to NSEA’s Bylaws will be considered during the annual meeting of the Delegate Assembly in Lincoln April 16-17. Proposed Bylaws Amendment 1 n Article I: Membership Section 2e: Student membership shall be open to any student enrolled in or preparing for a program of study in an accredited institution of higher learning that qualifies the student for a career in education, or serving as an elected officer of Student NEA or one of its affiliates; except that any person who has ever been eligible for Active membership is not eligible for Student membership. A student who is eligible for Association membership in both Student and Active membership categories may, with the approval of the NSEA Executive Committee, join the Association as a Student member. Rationale: Makes NSEA Bylaws consistent with NEA Bylaws. Also allows teachers who leave the profession temporarily and return to school to be eligible for student membership, with approval of NSEA’s Executive Committee. Proposed by the Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN). Proposed Bylaws Amendment 2 n Article V: Delegate Assembly Section 3: The Delegate Assembly shall be composed of the General Officers of the Association, the President and PresidentElect/Vice President of each District Association, voting members of the Board of Directors… Rationale: This change would eliminate obsolete language. Proposed by the NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee. Proposed Bylaws Amendment 3 n Article V: Delegate Assembly Section 7: The Delegate Assembly shall adopt its own procedural rules which may be amended during any session of the Delegate Assembly. A Session shall be defined as any period of time during which the Delegate Assembly is duly convened for regular or special Page Page16 16nnThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice VoicennApril April2010 2010
business. No more than three sessions shall be held during any one calendar day. Rationale: Simplifies language and adopts current practice. Proposed by the NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee. Proposed Bylaws Amendment 4 n Article V: Delegate Assembly Section 8: A quorum of the Delegate Assembly shall be a majority of the delegates registered as attending, with at least four separate geographical NSEA governance districts having a quorum present. Rationale: With the 2009 creation of the statewide Higher Education Academy District, not all governance districts are defined by geography. Proposed by the NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee. Proposed Bylaws Amendment 5 n Article IX: Review Board Section 3: The Review Board shall be composed of the six district presidents of the Association. No president shall participate in a matter involving a local affiliate or member from the district that president represents. Rationale: Eliminates unnecessary wording, as NSEA now has seven districts. Proposed by the NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee. Proposed Bylaws Amendment 6 n Article XII: Amendments Section 1: Amendments to these Bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Delegate Assembly. at any session in the annual meeting; provided such a(A)mendments have been shall be proposed in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the Assembly and referred to the Bylaws Committee for study and report. Rationale: Deletes unnecessary wording and clarifies the 30-day rule pertaining to submission of new Bylaws language. Proposed by the NSEA Board of Directors Bylaws Committee.
Order of Business NSEA Delegate Assembly 2010 Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska Jess Wolf, President, Presiding Registration: Atrium, Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Beginning at 5 p.m. Pre-Assembly Activity: The remodeled NSEA Building is open for member tours until 7 p.m.
Friday, April 16, 2010 t 7 p.m. Call to Order: NSEA President Jess Wolf, Hartington Pledge of Allegiance: SEAN President Tommie Leaders, University of Nebraska at Omaha First Report of Credentials Committee Adoption of Standing/Procedural Rules Adoption of Order of Business Address to Delegates: Honorable Gov. Dave Heineman Nominations for NEA Director for a Three-Year Term Remarks from Candidates for NEA Director Report of the Auditing Committee Report of the Bylaws Committee: NEA Director Leann Widhalm, Norfolk, Bylaws Committee Chair Debate on Proposed Bylaws: Voting to take place Saturday from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. Dues Proposal for 2010-11: NSEA Vice President Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia, Chair, Budget Committee Address to Delegates and Members by the President: Jess Wolf, Hartington Begin Action on New Business Items Submission of Additional New Business Items First Report of Resolutions Committee: Co-Chairs Daniel Ross, Lincoln, and Tracia Blom, S. Sioux City, Nebraska representatives on NEA’s Resolutions Committee; and Becky Torrens, Omaha, member of NEA’s Internal Editing Committee of the NEA Resolutions Committee Submission of Additional New Resolutions and/or Amendments to Continuing Resolutions Announcements and Recess These activities will take place immediately following the close of the First Session: tNSEA Budget Hearing, Olive Branch Room. tNEA and NSEA Resolutions Hearing, Garrat Room. tLincoln Education Association Foundation Benefit, hotel atrium.
Saturday, April 17, 2010 t 8:30 a.m. Horace Mann Awards Breakfast: Serving from 7:15 a.m. until 8 a.m.; Awards Program at 8:30 a.m. Final Report of Credentials Committee Submission of Additional New Business Items (by 10 a.m.) Submission of Additional New Resolutions and/or Amendments to Continuing Resolutions (By 10 a.m.) Committee of the Whole Action on New Business Items Election Committee Report (When available) Reports to the Assembly: NSEA Committees Report of the Executive Director: Craig R. Christiansen Final Report of Resolutions Committee: Daniel Ross, Tracia Blom and Becky Torrens Action on Resolutions Action on the Dues Proposal for 2010-11 Adjournment Post-Assembly Activity: Tours of the remodeled NSEA Building available for one hour after adjournment Parliamentarian: Dr. Jon Ericson, Drake University Friday evening break service provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska April2010 2010n nThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice Voicen nPage Page1717 April
2010-11 NSEA Dues Recommendation Dues for Certificated Staff The NSEA Board of Directors has recommended the following annual fee structure for Association membership by certificated staff. Delegates to the NSEA Delegate Assembly in Lincoln on April 16-17 will consider and act on these proposals. For the 2010-11 Association year, the NSEA Board of Directors recommends the dues for these certificated classes of NSEA membership be as follows:
Active: $357
Half-time Active: $178.50
Active Substitute: $178.50
Non-Active Sub: $89.25
This proposed 2 percent increase ($7) will fund the regular NSEA budget for 2010-11. All amounts listed are for state dues only. NEA dues for 2010-11 have been proposed at no more than $166, a $4 increase from 2009-10. The 2010-11 dues amount for a full-time, active member of NSEA includes a voluntary contribution of $15 to NSEA’s Political Action Fund. The dues amount for a half-time active member and an active substitute member includes a voluntary contribution of $7.50 to NSEA’s Political Action Fund. This contribution is refundable upon receipt of a written, individuallycomposed request. A reminder of the opportunity to seek a refund is published in the January issue of the NSEA Voice. Address refund requests to NSEA PAC Refund, in care of NSEA President, 605 S. 14th St., Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68508. Dues for Educational Support Professionals Delegates to the 2001 Delegate Assembly approved a separate dues structure for Educational Support Professionals (ESP). That action created four levels of dues for ESP members, and the NSEA Board of Directors last year modified the ESP dues structure to a six-tiered structure. The ESP dues structure is motivated by an effort to establish equity between the wide range of ESP salaries, while taking into consideration the fact that beginning teachers or teachers in lower-paid school districts are still paying full NSEA dues. In this model, the ESP member’s total base salary, regardless of the hours or number of days worked, establishes the state dues for that member. The percentages are based on the lowest starting teacher salary in the state, which was $25,500 in 2009-10.
ESP Dues Tier NSEA Dues Active ESP (salary of $25,500 or more).................................. $357.00 (100 percent of teacher dues) Active ESP ($20,400 to $24,499)............................................ $321.30 (90 percent of teacher dues) Active ESP ($15,300 to $20,399)............................................ $249.90 (70 percent of teacher dues) Active ESP ($10,200 to $15,299)........................................... $178.50 (50 percent of teacher dues) Active ESP ($5,100 to $10,199)............................................. $107.10 (30 percent of teacher dues) Active ESP ($5,099 or less).................................................... $35.70 (10 percent of teacher dues)
2010-11 Dues Comparison Membership dues for the Nebraska State Education Association rank sixth among 13 Midwest and Western states included in an NSEA staff negotiations comparability array. NSEA Dues History State 08-09 09-10 Proposed
Wyoming............ $492 Iowa................... $422 Minnesota.......... $391 Colorado............ $363 Kansas............... $344 Nebraska.......... $342 South Dakota..... $315 Missouri............. $319 New Mexico....... $325 Utah................... $321 Arizona.............. $298 Texas................. $270 North Dakota..... $289
$490 $437 $397 $370 $358 $350 $328 $329 $338 $334 $313 $282 $287
AVERAGE..............$345.46
$355.25 $360.27
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$504 $454 $405 NA $362 $357 $341 $339 $338 $326 $315 $290 $289
Budget Year
NSEA Dues
Percent Increase
2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 1999-00 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96
$357 $350 $342 $328 $308 $296 $282 $268 $257 $245 $238 $233 $227 $221 $215 $209
2.00 2.30 4.26 6.49 4.05 4.96 5.22 4.28 4.89 2.94 2.14 2.64 2.71 2.79 2.87 3.98
BCBS Rates Set for 2010-11 Sept. 1 Increase Will Be Modest There’s good news on the medical premium front, at least for Nebraska educators: rates for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan used by most Nebraska schools will increase a modest 4.56 percent for 2010-11. The increase is the lowest in a dozen years, and marks the eighth straight year of an increase of less than 10 percent. Medical rates in the plan increase by 4.5 percent. Dental rates rise 6.4 percent. The rates were announced by the Educator’s Health Alliance (EHA), an umbrella organization that oversees the plan for Nebraska school districts. The rates are effective on Sept. 1. While the 4.56 percent increase reflects overall rates for the EHA plan, changes in premium rates will be different in each of the plan’s four tiers. Those tiers include employee only; employee and children; employee and spouse; and employee, spouse and children. There will be no changes to the deductible, coinsurance, and prescription drug copayments of the existing $350, $600, $800 and $1,100 PPO plans. Dual Option Plans Among the changes is an effort to give members a choice in coverage options. A local association could negotiate with the district to offer one option each from the $350 or $600 deductible options, and either the $1,500 or $2,850 deductible options. If the district and association choice is to go with a dual option plan, the district is tied to that plan for three years. A participant in the district, however, could switch between either of the two chosen plans each year during the three-year term. The $1,500 and $2,850 deductible plans are not available as stand-alone plans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska must have local association signoff before a district can make changes to existing plan choices. NSEA has worked with Blue Cross and Blue Shield to insure that no plan is accepted and implemented without local association approval. Reduced-Benefit Plan Among changes is the first-time
BluePreferred Health Coverage Rates, 2010-11 Plan Employee Employee Employee & Child(ren) & Spouse $350 deductible $496.16 $917.92 $1,041.96 $600 deductible $470.45 $870.36 $987.96 (Actives) $800 deductible $454.59 $841.01 $954.65 $1,100 deductible $435.49 $805.66 $914.52 $5,000 deductible $248.08 $458.96 $520.98 Reduced Benefit $1,500 deductible $396.93 $734.34 $833.57 (Dual Choice Only) $2,850 deductible $396.93 $734.34 $833.57 HSA-Eligible (Dual Choice Only) 600 deductible Retirees $1,500 deductible $2,850 deductible HSA-Eligible
Employee Spouse & Child(ren) $1,399.08 $1,326.58 $1,281.85 $1,227.97 $699.54 $1,119.26 $1,119.26
Health Coverage — Retirees
$517.51
$917.39
$1,086.75 $1,373.73
$436.62 $436.62
$774.00 $774.00
$916.89 $916.89
Dental Rates 2010-11
80%A & B Coverage $21.66 80% A, B & C $46.01 PPO: 80% A & B, $22.25 with 50% C coverage PPO: 80% A, B & C $41.90 with 50% D coverage PPO: 100% A, B & C $45.85
availability of a reduced-benefit plan. This option comes with a $5,000 deductible that will cost exactly half the price of the $350 deductible plan. “Plan participants were looking for a low-cost plan,” said NSEA Executive Director and EHA Board Chair Craig R. Christiansen. “We’ve worked for some time to bring this option from conception to reality. We think it meets a key need and enhances the plan.” The reduced-benefit option is available on a bargaining unit basis only. If a local association chooses the reducedbenefit option, it will be the only coverage option available to members of that bargaining unit. Christiansen urged members to review the reduced benefits before making that choice. The reduced benefit plan has a maximum co-insurance out-of-pocket cost of $7,900 per individual and $15,800 per family.
$1,159.02 $1,159.02
$40.08 $85.13 $41.15
$45.49 $96.63 $46.71
$61.09 $129.76 $62.75
$77.51
$87.99
$118.17
$84.82
$96.30
$129.32
Benefit Changes The 2010-11 plan includes these benefit changes: n The benefits for behavioral health coverage will be improved and will be covered the same as any other covered services. There will not be separate copayments or limits for these services. n The $1,250 deductible and $5,000 deductible HSA eligible plans will be eliminated effective Sept. 1, 2010. n Early retirees and direct bill members will have additional benefits plans. Effective Sept. 1, 2010, EHA will offer two options for early retirees, in addition to the current $600 deductible plan. The new options are a new $1,500 deductible plan and a $2,850 deductible HSA-eligible plan. For details, check out EHA’s link on the NSEA site at: www.nsea.org April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 19
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BIRSST Aids Brain Injured Kids Regional Teams Work With Schools to Teach Students With Injuries Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for children in this country. That’s why, for teachers dealing with students who have suffered a brain injury, the Brain Injury School Support Teams program (BIRSST) has organized regionally. BIRSST teams are available to provide consultative services to schools that teach students who have sustained a brain injury. The teams can provide educators with information; materials; training; and consultative services. Brain injuries can be acquired or traumatic, and may involve loss of oxygen to the brain; bleeding in the brain; tearing of brain cells; or neurochemical disruptions. Acquired brain injuries occur as a result of acute health difficulties, such as stroke, substance inhalation, near drowning, or illness. Common causes of traumatic injuries include motor vehicle accidents; auto/pedestrian accidents; child abuse; and falls or sports-related injuries. Nearly 85 percent of traumatic injuries are classified as mild, and up to 80 percent of those injuries are not initially identified. Mild traumatic brain injuries include concussion, brief loss of consciousness, or amnesia without loss of consciousness. Only 15 percent of mild injuries involve obvious symptoms, and result in negative routine neurological evaluations. Moderate traumatic injuries include loss of consciousness for less than 24 hours, while severe injuries involve loss of consciousness for longer than 24 hours. Recovery time for a mild injury with no loss of consciousness may be four to eight weeks, while for a more severe injury the recovery time may extend a full year. Unfortunately, the strongest predictor of a head injury is a previous head injury, and 90 percent of repeat injuries occur within 10 days of a previous injury due to subtle changes in balance and reaction time. Observable changes in students who have experienced brain injury may include changes in attention, memory and personality. Sometimes students become more restless, more
By region: Nebraska’s Brain Injury School Support Teams (BIRSSTs) are divided into five regions.
easily confused, or more easily upset. Sometimes they experience physical symptoms, such as headache or fatigue. They may have more difficulty learning, completing school work, and maintaining interest in school. Students who have suffered a brain injury may benefit from a variety of instructional strategies and accommo-
dations, dependent on their particular symptoms. For more information, contact the BIRSST team leader for your area. Those contacts can be found at: http://www.braininjury.ne.gov/ pages/L2SchoolSupportTeams.html More details can also be found at: http://www.braininjury.ne.gov/
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Resources You Can Use Sand Hills and Ashes is Conference Focus Imagine North Central Nebraska covered by deadly clouds of ash, so thick that they block out the sun and blanket vegetation with drifts of suffocating granules of volcanic debris. “Ashes in the Sand Hills” is the theme for the July 8, 2010, Sand Hills Discovery Conference. Join a group of Sand Hills enthusiasts from diverse localities as they encounter noted experts speaking on this and related topics of the region. A full day, intellectually stimulating conference will be packed with enough variety to appeal to all ages and levels of education. The full experience is rounded out by two days of escorted field trips. A highlight this year will be a trip to Ash Fall State Park near Royal. Graduate credit available from Wayne State. Tours can fill quickly, so register early. Check out the full program by visiting: www.sandhillsdiscovery.org
Western Nebraska is GEON Topic Geographic Educators of Nebraska (GEON) will again offer a summer workshop for the professional development of K-12 teachers. The June 27-through-July 2 workshop, in Scottsbluff, is free to participants, with the exception of one meal a day and transportation to and from Scottsbluff. The program will focus on the geography of the Nebraska panhandle and eastern Wyoming. The days will be filled with field studies, lectures by local experts, and teaching strategies offered by elementary and secondary teacher consultants. Topics will include physical geography, agricultural geography, economic geography and historical geography. Site visits will be made to Chimney Rock; the Wildcat Hills; Fort Laramie; Devil’s Tower; the Black Thunder Coal Mine; and other sites. Three hours of graduate credit are available through Wayne State College. Participants also receive a $250 stipend upon completion of workshop requirements. The application deadline is May 28, and the workshop is open to only 20 participants. For details, contact Page 24 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
Dyslexia Expert Will Be at Stromsburg Dyslexia affects 20 percent of our population, and is the most common reason a bright child will struggle with reading, writing and spelling. Early detection is key. On April 18, internationally recognized dyslexia expert Susan Barton will give a free, three-hour presentation on dyslexia at Cross County School, Stromsburg, NE. The presentation will begin promptly at 4 p.m. For more information, or to reserve a seat, contact Darlene Merz at 402-2458226, or register online by going to: www.Merz.EventBrite.com
Lonnie Moore at: lmoore@westside66.org
‘City Geography’ Session Set for June Where and what are the Great Plains? Why is the state capital located in Lincoln? What can you learn about human geography at a cemetery? How did salt and clay shape Lincoln’s future? The ‘Geography of the City – Lincoln’ summer institute will be held at Nebraska Wesleyan University from July 14-17. The free program, offered by the Geographic Educators of Nebraska, will focus on the human and physical geography of the Lincoln area. Field trips will highlight and explain important locations in Lincoln’s urban, economic and historical geography. Participants will create and share standardsbased lesson plans. Three hours of graduate credit are available through Wayne State College. Registrants who live outside a 50-mile radius of Lincoln will have free hous-
ing. Participants will receive free teaching materials. Those who complete all requirements receive a $250 stipend. Applications are due on June 16. For details, e-mail Brian Burback at: bburback@lps.org
Liven State’s History for Fourth Graders Designed to complement existing fourth-grade Nebraska history curriculum, new tools and activities to engage students and bring elements of history to life in the classroom will soon be available to teachers. Games, materials and interactive activities will help educate students about the fun and historical discoveries they can make along Nebraska’s nine scenic and historic byways. Developed by the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism with input from teachers, the new tools, games and activities are based on information in The Nebraska Adventure, a popular Nebraska history textbook. Content is focused on detailing the historical significance
Re-elect Leann Widhalm, NEA Director
Representing You as Your Local Link to the NEA: A Capital Idea!
of sites across Nebraska. Topics include map reading; state symbols; American Indians; explorers and pioneers; forts and military bases; and more. Beginning in May, each Nebraska elementary school will receive a complete kit of fourth-grade activities and tools, A Web site has been developed that includes electronic versions of many of the materials, as well as online games. Find out more at: HistoryWithTyler.com
Galapagos Islands Teacher Study Open Applications are now available for the 2010 Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands, a fully-funded professional development program for U.S. educators. Funded by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and administered by the Institute of International Education, the program aims to advance environmental stewardship and global connectedness in U.S. schools and communities. The program takes place Nov. 20
through Dec. 4, 2010. The deadline to apply is May 26. Classroom teachers and librarians for grades 6-12 are eligible. For details, or to apply, visit: www.toyota4education.com
See Financial Literacy Summit Via Webcast The free Financial Literacy and Education Summit webcast will be on Monday, April 19, from 9-11 a.m. The webcast is a joint project of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Visa. This year’s topic, ‘Advancing Financial Stability and Responsibility,’ targets financial literacy educators, their students, math teachers and anyone in general who wants to know more about how to best navigate personal finances. The webcast will feature an introduction by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke. To view the webcast, register in advance at: www.PracticalMoneySkills.com The Practical Money Skills Web site is a year-round free classroom resource.
ESPs: Prepare for ‘Strength Training!’ Plan to Attend May Conference Education Support Professionals in Nebraska should get ready for a workout. NSEA has scheduled a May conference entitled ‘Education Support Professionals: Strength Training.’ The May 7-8 conference will include training on formal and informal bargaining of contracts; using e-mail effectively; uses and dangers of social networking sites; the structure of the Association; and a discussion of how to effectively recruit members and involve them in local association activities. The conference will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7, and will conclude at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in Omaha, located off Interstate 680 at the Irvington Exit. Rooms and meals for participants will be paid. For details, contact NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein at: marlene.wehrbein@nsea.org
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NEA Member Benefits Snookie’s Snippets H&R Block is the nation’s largest tax preparation company, and a name that millions of Americans know and trust. NEA Member Benefits and H&R Block have joined forces to offer discounts on tax preparation for NEA members. Those offers include: n $20 off tax preparation at an H&R Block retail office, or $40 off Krumbiegel in an H&R Block premium office. H&R Block has more than 12,000 offices nationwide, so there’s always one close to you. n Save on a variety of H&R Block At Home online and software tax preparation products. NEA members also receive the following benefits with their tax preparation at H&R Block: a discount on tax preparation; electronic filing of tax documents; a satisfaction guarantee; a maximum refund guarantee; audit assistance; refund planning; and returns kept on file for at least three years. NEA Life Insurance Programs There are new, lower 2010 rates for our best rates ever. Protect your family for an average of 14 percent less! We Have a Winner! NSEA member Sara Peterson, a special education teacher at Educational Service Unit No. 13 in Scottsbluff, was a winner in the February NEA Member Benefits Web site sweepstakes. Peterson won a $100 gift card to Target. See below for details on this month’s sweepstakes. Sweepstakes Reminders Here are the current NEA Member Benefits Web site sweepstakes: n Through April 15: Quicken Financial Software; $1,000 Liberty Travel gift cards; Alamo 2-Day Weekend Car Rental Certificates. n Through April 14: $5,000 Travel Getaway Sweepstakes and five $500 Whirlpool gift cards. Register to win at: www.neamb.com Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative.
Building Your Good Credit
Establishing Good Credit Takes Time, Following Proven Financial Habits If you’re not sure how to establish good credit or improve your credit profile, you’re not alone. Many Americans don’t realize how their spending habits affect their credit. If you’ve only paid cash for purchases, have no credit cards or have never repaid a loan, you don’t have a record that shows you make payments on time. If you’ve made some late payments or missed payments, that also appears on your credit report. Here are some things counselors recommend to establish good credit: n Open a checking account in your own name, keep it balanced, and be sure not to bounce any checks. n Apply for a credit card. Mortgage lenders usually want to see how you’ve handled smaller debts, such as credit card balances. Experts advise having no more (or less) than two to four credit cards. By making regular payments over a period of time, you demonstrate you are capable of repaying a debt. n Make all payments on time. It’s the single most important factor! The due date is the date your payment should be received, not the date that it should be mailed. n If you missed any payments, catch up and stay current. Your goal is to build a long history of on-time payments. n Keep balances low. The less available credit you use, the higher your credit score. So make up your mind to use only 50 percent of your limit on any card, regardless of whether you pay off
the balance each month. n Keep your debt ratio between 2030 percent. The amount you pay each month for debts such as credit cards and consumer loans should total no more than 20 to 30 percent of your gross monthly income. n Don’t open credit cards you don’t need just to increase your available credit. This may result in a lower credit score. It’s best to demonstrate responsible credit-building behavior on a few accounts. n Realize that paying off a collection account does not remove it from your credit report. It remains on your credit report for seven years. A closed account will also remain on your report, and may affect your credit score. n If you’ve had credit problems, start rebuilding. To reestablish your creditworthiness, open a few carefullychosen new accounts, and be sure you pay them off on time, every time. n Review your credit often. Keeping tabs on your credit report is a good way to stay ahead of the game. Reviewing your credit report is also a good way to check that you are not a victim of identity theft. To learn more, call the NEA Home Financing Program 1-800-632-4968 to speak with a home mortgage consultant. Remember, the benefits of the NEA Home Financing Program are extended to parents and adult children of NEA members.
Save 20 Percent at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM No matter what the occasion – birthdays, weddings, stork arrivals, holidays, or celebrating friendship or love – 1-800-FLOWERS.COM can provide just the right gift. Choose from the freshest flowers and plants, gourmet foods and gift baskets, confections, and plush stuffed animals. There’s even more to celebrate, now that NEA members save 20 percent on their purchases. Go to the NEA Member Benefits Web site and put ‘1-800-FLOWERS.COM’ in the search box in the upper right corner of the page. Register or sign in to get the special NEA member promo code to order online or by phone. Service specialists are there to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NEA Member Benefits Web site is at: www.neamb.com April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 27
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From the Executive Director
Teacher Performance Pay: On Its Own Merit tended practice. In teaching — as in all Few legislative bills have received more attention in public service — the relationship of the education circles than Sen. Ken Haar’s bill (LB1014) to professional and the client is simply too establish state funding for performance pay for teachers. complex to be measured by a single quanPerformance pay offers the prospect of alternative methods titative indicator. It is not about paying of teacher pay that supplement the standard indexed salary for test scores. That simplistic approach schedule. The indexed salary schedule that is almost univergives money to teachers in affluent arsally found in schools across the nation typically rewards eas. It is not about paying only for imlongevity and college credits. Should there be more to it provement in test scores. That approach than just years of service and getting college credits? denies pay to those teachers with high The discussion over performance pay this year in the performing students who don’t have the Legislature gives us all a great opportunity to find some room for big improvements in already “teachable moments” with our friends, relatives — and colExecutive high scores. Well-designed performance leagues. Many Nebraska newspapers have run news articles Director pay often takes the form of career lador opinion columns on this subject. Talk radio and televiCraig R. ders or other ways to incent professional Christiansen sion programs have focused on the question of how this growth and society should pay teachers. teaching skill development. The discussion goes beyond The goal is certainly inthe amount of pay, which, Examples of Performance Pay creased student achievement, frankly, will probably never but good performance pay properly reward teachers for Additional Salary for: plans should include emphathe vital work they do. n Learning another language (e.g. conversational sis on how teachers grow in The question of perforSpanish). their skills as teachers with mance pay is no longer n Teaching longer during the school day or year. meaningful evaluations and whether it is appropriate. The n Advancing through the state licensure system. incentives to continue profescommon understanding in the n Gaining additional subject endorsements. sional development. American workplace is that n Improving teaching practice. those who do more should n Teaching at hard-to-staff schools. Salary Myth be rewarded for their work. n Accepting additional responsibilities. Performance pay is not Coaches are paid more than n Extra teaching assignments. about having teachers comthose who do not coach. That n Acquisition of additional subject or teaching pete with each other or forcis hardly controversial. It is skills. ing them to narrow a rich only one example of perforn Achieving National Board Certification. curriculum to meet single mance pay. And it is the right n Evidence of improved student learning. test goals. The myth is that thing to do. Those who do n Specialized professional development. pay is frequently tied directly more should be paid more. n Coaching or sponsoring student clubs or to production in the private activities. workplace. The fact is that it A Serious Discussion n Advancing through a tiered Professional Growth is rare. What is more comIf we are serious about Salary Schedule. monplace is that pay in the increasing teacher pay, we n Developing new curricula. private sector is tied to career must take performance pay n Gaining specialized certification (e.g. ESL, Early paths or to increased responseriously. The question is not Childhood, etc.). sibility. whether performance pay will Performance pay should attract better teachers or inbe a local decision. The real cent good teachers to be even challenge in every commubetter. The general opinion of nity is to start the conversation about how those teachers the public — including teachers — is that employees who whose professional performance involves additional time, work harder, produce more, or just “do” more, should be knowledge, skill, or responsibility should be recognized with paid more. The attraction of performance pay in the public professional performance pay. The time is long overdue in mind is that it plays into this fundamental belief. Unless we planning how to recognize, reward, and incent the kind of acknowledge that reality, we will be playing continual catch outstanding teaching performance that makes a difference up with salary schedules that do not conceptually match for students. We are lucky in this state to have outstanding public expectations of how people should be paid. teachers. It is time to recognize that…and them. Performance pay is about paying for improved or exApril 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 29
NSEA-Retired Corner
Annual Confab in Lincoln in April Wine, History, Photography, Social Media, Genealogy, Antiques on the Agenda Come one, come all to the NSEA-Retired Annual Meeting and Spring Conference in Lincoln. It is set for Wednesday and Thursday, April 14-15! The Wednesday schedule will open at 6:30 p.m. at the newly-remodeled NSEA Headquarters building, with a wine-tasting seminar, hosted by the Reidel Wine Glass Company. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste wine and to learn which Reidel wine glass works best with different wines. Attendees will receive a set of four Reidel wine glasses just for attending, and appetizers are provided. Seating is limited, and the cost is $35 per person — but the wine glasses are a more than $100 value. The Thursday schedule runs from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., at Hillcrest Country Club, just east of 84th and ‘O’ streets in Lincoln. In addition to the annual NSEA-Retired business meeting, the main speakers are the ever-popular Dr. Richard O’Brien, who will continue his discussions on Health Care Reform with What Did We Get? Where Do We Go From Here?; and Joe Starita, University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism professor who wrote the exciting but sad story of I Am a Man . . . Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice. Starita’s books will be available for purchase and signing by the author at the conference. Much-anticipated breakout sessions include: Fundraiser: NSEA-Retired President Roger Rea, left, and retired LinCooking for Two; Digital Cameras; Social coln teacher Lorene Behrends, display the quilt that Behrends made Networking — Facebook and Twitter; Trash to and donated as a fundraiser for the NSEA Children’s Fund.The queenTreasure — Antique Appraising (please limit sized quilt, in a ‘churn dash’ pattern, is the subject of a raffle, with tickyour treasure to one); EHA, BCBS and Medicare ets being sold at the NSEA-Retired conference in Lincoln this month; supplemental programs; Wine Tasting; Living at the NSEA Delegate Assembly, also in April; and at the NEA RepreWills and Trusts; and Tracing Your Family sentative Assembly. Raffle tickets can also be obtained by calling Rebecca Smith at the NSEA at 1-800-742-0047. Roots. A continental breakfast, lunch and a dessert social are offered at no cost to NSEA-Retired only if you buy a ticket. members. Hillcrest Country Club, 9401 ‘O’ St., is east of Southeast NSEA-Retired Board Community College. The entrance is the first road going The NSEA-Retired Board of Directors will meet at the south past Anthony Lane. Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln on Friday, April 16, for Register by calling Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047, or its third meeting of the year. The NSEA Delegate Assembly online at: will meet at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln on www.nsea.org/members/retired Friday evening, April 16, and Saturday, April 17. Quilt Raffle Thanks to the fine craftsmanship of Lorene Behrends, Lincoln Education Association-Retired leader, you have a chance to win her latest creation, valued at more than $1,200. Raffle tickets are $1 each, or six tickets for $5. Tickets will be available at the NSEA-Retired Annual Meeting and Spring Conference April 15, or at the NSEA Delegate Assembly, April 16-17. The winning ticket will be drawn after the NEA Representative Assembly in July. You can be a winner Page 30 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
SEAN Delegate Assembly The Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) will meet at the NSEA Building on Saturday, March 27. A highlight will be the annual presentation of the NSEA-Retired/ SEAN Scholarships to four student members. This year there were seven applications for the $750 awards that are given to the winners during their student teaching semesters. — Tom Black, Editor wpc6296@cableone.net
A Hole-in-One for Kids! Lincolnite Aces Hole, Wins Golf Cart in Tourney Benefit The annual NSEA Children’s Fund Golf Tournament held last June was a rousing success for the Fund and for Lincoln’s Mike Donnelly. The tournament raised more than $16,000 for the Fund, and Donnelly scored his first-ever holein-one with an ace at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course. Donnelly picked the right time and place to score his ace: his feat happened on the fourth hole, sponsored by Nebraska Golf and Turf Inc. and Club Car Inc. The ace won him the golf cart offered as a prize from the hole sponsors. This year’s tournament will be held on Tuesday, June 8. The site: Lincoln’s Yankee Hill Country Club. The 2010 sponsor: Ameriprise Financial. Donnelly, who lives on a golf
course, said his wife had just told him that she’d sure like to have a golf cart. “I’ve always been a walker but if somebody gives you a cart, you might as well use it,” he said. Donnelly wasn’t the only big winner at the 2009 tourney. “School children across Nebraska were the big winners,” said NSEA President Jess Wolf. “The NSEA Children’s Fund has helped more than 4,000 school children across Nebraska since its inception in 1994. We have raised and spent more than $500,000 to provide basic necessities for children in need.” The Fund is there because teachers, on the front line of education, see children in need every school day. To make a tax-deductible donation, call 402-475-7611 or send your check to NSEA Children’s Fund, 605 S. 14 St., Lincoln, NE 68508. For details, or to register for the 2010 tourney, contact Sally Bodtke at 1-800-742-0047.
Thinkfinity Offers Free Resources Teachers looking for an easier way to enhance classroom instruction with lesson plans, interactive activities and other online resources might consider Thinkfinity. The free, comprehensive digital learning platform is built upon the merger of two acclaimed programs, Verizon’s MarcoPolo and the Thinkfinity Literacy Network. Thinkfinity is now the cornerstone of Verizon Foundation’s literacy, education and technology initiatives. The foundation’s goal: to improve student achievement in traditional classroom settings and beyond, by providing high-quality content and extensive professional development training. Content partners include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Council of Teachers of English and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Learn more at: thinkfinity.org
NSEA Members Get Verizon Discount Your NSEA membership entitles you to discounts of up to 18 percent on your monthly Verizon bill. How do you get that discount? Click on the Verizon logo on the NSEA Web site, and follow instructions from there. Have your membership identification number handy, as that number is required in order to log in. Your 10-digit number can be found on your NSEA membership card, and is also posted above your name on the mailing label on the back of each issue of The Voice. The NSEA Web site is at: www.nsea.org
Omaha ESP Member Angela Valdez Was 56 Angela G. Valdez, 56, of Omaha, died on March 6 following a five-year battle with cancer. Valdez held an education support professional membership in NSEA, and worked as a bilingual liaison at Bryan Middle School in Omaha. Valdez is survived by her husband, Ramiro, two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren, all of Omaha.
A Crisis of Belief Ex-DOE Leader: NCLB Doesn’t Work
What if you were wrong about everything you believed to be true about what’s needed to improve public education? Talk about a crisis of faith! That’s exactly what has happened to one of the most ardent supporters of the ‘No Child Left Behind Act.’ Diane Ravitch, former Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education under the first Bush Administration, has done an about-face in relation to her positions on charter schools, teacher evaluation systems based on test scores, and the privatization of public education. Her conversion is a valuable lesson for federal and state lawmakers who want to implement similar reforms in public schools. “I was known as a conservative advocate for many of these policies,” said Ravitch, who has written a book called ‘The Death and Life of the Great American School System.’ “I’ve looked at the evidence and I’ve concluded they’re wrong. I feel passionately about the improvements of public education, and I don’t think any of this is going to improve public education.” Ravitch now believes NCLB misuses standardized testing. “The basic strategy is measuring and punishing. It turns out as a result of putting so much emphasis on the test scores, there’s a lot of cheating going on. There’s a lot of gaming the system,” she said. “Instead of raising standards, it’s actually lowered standards because many states have ‘dumbed down’ their tests, or changed the scoring of the tests to say that more kids are passing than actually are.” According to Ravitch, states will say that 80 to 90 percent of their children are proficient in reading and math. When national tests are taken, those same states will not have 90 percent but only 25 or 30 percent of their students proficient in reading and math. “Secretary (Arne) Duncan often says we’re lying to our kids, and we are lying to our kids,” said Ravitch. To listen to Ravitch’s interview at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/ story.php?storyId=124209100 April 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 31
NEA to Members: Share Your Teaching Stories Wide Range of Voices Sought for Book on Teaching Profession The National Education Association is engaged in an ambitious project to produce an important new book on the past, present and future of the American teaching profession, and the editors need your help! They need help in capturing the range of teacher voices from across the nation, and are asking for your help. You can participate by submitting a short vignette illustrating the key challenges you face(d) daily as part of educating students. Whether active or retired, NEA wants to hear your most memorable stories about being a K-12 public school teacher. For further information and instructions for submission, please go to this link: http://www.nea.org/home/38073. htm
Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742
Family of Teachers
Speaking of Teaching “There should not be an education marketplace, there should not be competition. Schools operate fundamentally — or should operate — like families. The fundamental principle by which education proceeds is collaboration. Teachers are supposed to share what works; schools are supposed to get together and talk about what’s [been successful] for them. They’re not supposed to hide their trade secrets and have a survival of the fittest competition with the school down the block.” — Diane Ravitch, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education under President George H.W. Bush
Mann Family of Teachers: Eunice Mann was a teacher of home economics for 10 years before becoming a special education teacher. Her career spanned 31 years at Ord, Burwell, Atkinson and O’Neill high schools, before she retired in 1990. Her mother, Valborg Jensen, received normal training at Wayne State College and taught at rural schools in Platte and Boone counties. From left are Mann; daughter Barb Bode, who has taught family and consumer sciences at Elgin High School for 27 years, where she also serves as the guidance counselor; granddaughter Angie Mann, who graduated from Wayne State in May 2008 and is a family and consumer sciences teacher at Battle Creek High School; and daughter-in-law Ann Mann, who has taught family and consumer sciences at O’Neill High School for 31 years. If you have a family of teachers, send your photo and information to Family of Teachers, c/o NSEA, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742.
An Environmental Model From Kathy D., a teacher in Great Falls, MT:
“A teacher is a great environmental model as he/she recycles paper, wallpaper books, egg cartons, plastic bottles for paints, plastic containers to hold science activities, and by not throwing anything away until it is totally used up. My students actually enjoy the idea that, as their teacher, I recycle as much as I can. Parents have commented how their Page 32 n The NSEA Voice n April 2010
children, my students, started to be astute about their own personal use of materials at home. The analogy is the economic reality our country is facing. It is OK to wear a sweater in the classroom. It is OK to turn off the lights as we leave the classroom. It is OK to recycle aluminum cans and plastic. It is OK to use reusable plastic containers for your lunches. It is OK to only take as much food at lunch as you are going to eat.” Sign up for Works4Me at this link: http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html